Orange Level 8 warning as heavy rain, flooding and snow hit parts of South Africa

The South African Weather Service has issued multiple severe weather warnings for Tuesday, 5 May 2026, as an intense cut-off low system brings heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and snow across several provinces.

The highest alert, an Orange Level 8 warning, is in place for parts of the Eastern Cape, with dangerous flooding expected.

ALSO READ: Cold front warning: heavy rain, flooding and snow to hit parts of South Africa

Where severe weather is hitting today

• Eastern Cape: Highest risk with flooding and danger to life
• KwaZulu-Natal: Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail
• Western Cape: Heavy rain, flooding and possible snow
• Gauteng and central regions: Thunderstorms and localised flooding
• Northern Cape: Cold conditions with snow expected in high areas

The system is expected to continue into Wednesday and Thursday.

Eastern Cape faces highest risk

The most severe conditions are expected in the Eastern Cape.

An Orange Level 8 warning is in place for Koukamma and Kouga, where:

• Flooding of homes and roads is expected
• Communities may be cut off
• There is a real danger to life

An additional Orange Level 6 warning covers coastal areas from Tsitsikamma to Kei Mouth, with ongoing heavy rain and flooding.

KwaZulu-Natal braces for severe storms

KwaZulu-Natal is under multiple warnings for severe thunderstorms.

Expect:

• Strong damaging winds
• Large hail
• Heavy downpours
• Flooding of roads and settlements

Both Orange Level 6 and Yellow Level 4 warnings are active across the province.

Western Cape hit by rain, wind and snow

Parts of the Western Cape are already seeing disruptive rain, with more severe weather expected into midweek.

Warnings include:

• Flooding in the Garden Route and Central Karoo
• Gale-force winds along the coast
• Rough seas and storm surge risks
• Snowfall in high-lying areas

Conditions are expected to worsen between Wednesday and Thursday.

Gauteng and inland provinces see thunderstorms

A Yellow Level 2 warning is in place for Gauteng, the Free State, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

These regions can expect:

• Widespread showers and thunderstorms
• Localised flooding in low-lying areas
• Possible damage to infrastructure

Snowfall expected in multiple regions

Snow is forecast for:

• Northern Cape high ground
• Western Cape mountains
• Eastern Cape high-lying areas

This could lead to:

• Slippery roads
• Travel disruptions
• Risk to livestock in rural areas

What to expect over the next few days

The cut-off low system will continue affecting large parts of the country until Thursday.

Weather risks include:

• Heavy rainfall and flooding
• Strong winds and coastal damage
• Very cold conditions
• Snow in elevated areas

The combination of these factors increases the risk of disruption across multiple provinces.

Safety advice for residents

• Avoid flooded roads and low-lying areas
• Delay travel in high-risk regions
• Secure outdoor items ahead of strong winds
• Monitor official updates from SAWS
• Farmers should protect livestock from cold and wet conditions

Why this matters

Severe weather systems like this can escalate quickly and affect both urban and rural communities.

Flooding, strong winds and snow not only disrupt daily life but can also damage infrastructure and pose serious safety risks.

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